The Prostitute and the Painter

"What were you and Olivia talking about?" Lucas asked.

"A bit of this and that." Bernard replied.

Lucas knew what Bernard was capable of, "You didn't say anything rude to her right?"

"It wouldn't have mattered because she clearly doesn't care about you nor me." Bernard said bitterly.

Lucas could tell from his tone that he had not spoken to Olivia in any friendly terms.

"I will talk to you later." He responds to Bernard.

Lucas makes his way to their room and he walks in quietly. He finds her sitting on the floor with her legs raised up to her knees. He walks in and sits next to her. She hears him because she raises her head and looks at him.

Her eyes have torment in them which quickly vanishes.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing." Olivia said.

"How are you feeling?"

"Sad." She replies. This is the first time that she has ever told him what she felt.

"Why?"

"It's nothing."

"Is it because of Bernard?"

She doesn't answer, and he guesses that he is right. What had he said to her?

"I will tell him to apologize for what he said to you."

"It's okay, why should he apologize for the truth? I am a prostitute after all." Olivia said. Her voice sounded so broken.

"No, you are no longer a prostitute, you are my wife now. That is all in the past."

He got up and he held out his hand to her. She looked at him quizzically, but she took it. They went to the kitchen. "Let's make dinner."

"Okay." She answered in a cheery voice.

Lucas saw that she loved to bake and cook new things. So, they started cooking and he went behind her and put an apron around her waist.

He helped her cut vegetables in that position. His hand was over hers, and he did it slowly so that they were both is sync.

He left her to it whilst he was washing the meat.

"How does this look?" she asked.

"Wow, that looks really great."

She looked so happy at his compliment. "You think so?" She asked.

"I know so." He replied to her.

He took out some flour and they started to knead it. She took a pinch of flour and she sprinkled it on his face. Lucas was surprised that she had done, and her laughter rang next.

He couldn't let her get away with it, when he took a bit also and he threw it at her. She squealed, and they started to play a game. He chased her around and she was about to throw some at him when she came to a halt.

He looked at where she was looking, and he saw Bernard there glaring at them, he was glaring at Olivia especially with disdain in his eyes. All her gait was gone as she walked back into the kitchen self consciously and she put back the flour in the packet.

She went back to kneading the dough. Lucas went next to her and he didn't say anything. Even though he had left, Olivia was now still quiet, and she didn't answer as enthusiastically as earlier on.

When dinner was set, and everyone was by the table. Lucas bowed his head and so did Bernard. "Amen." Bernard said when he finished the prayer.

He thought he would find Olivia would have already eaten her portion as usual, but she hadn't. She picked up her fork when they also picked up theirs and she didn't say a word.

Earlier on she had asked if she could eat by their room, so he and Bernard could talk but Lucas had asked her to rather stay and eat with. He hadn't thought that she would agree to him, but she had.

"This is delicious Lucas, thank you." Said Bernard.

He couldn't take all the credit because he had done it with Olivia. "You should also thank Olivia, she helped in making this."

Olivia looked up and she was surprised that he had mentioned her helping in this. Lucas smiled at her. And she hesitantly smiled back a bit.

"I don't care." Bernard exclaimed.

"Well you should care, because she also put her time and effort to make a nice supper for you."

"It doesn't make a difference to me what this harlot does." Bernard said.

Lucas's hand banged on the table. "That's enough, I will not allow you to insult my wife in my house!"

Bernard was quiet throughout the rest of the dinner.

Olivia felt something that she didn't want to feel and never thought she would feel. She was touched that someone had defended her for the first time in her life.

She looked at Lucas and she felt safe with him. She wondered why her out of all the people in this world did she deserve someone like him.